Tom Earnshaw
Speaking as someone who has suffered from it since he was six-years-old, hay fever is an absolute nightmare here in the UK.
A runny nose, watery eyes, and non-stop sneezing... three symptoms that are synonymous with the summer months for anyone else that suffers from a pollen allergy.
For some, 2024 has proven to be a particularly bad year for hay fever sufferers - and there's a reason for that. And whatever you do, do not hold your sneeze if you feel the allergies hitting you particularly hard. Try and avoid rubbing your eyes, too.
Sadly, pollen isn't restricted to the UK. Which means those of us heading overseas for a summer holiday should prepare to be hit by pollen bombs across Europe and beyond - especially if it stays warm, humid and windy.
And now, new research has been released revealing the worst places on the European continent when it comes to your holiday being ruined by the allergy.
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Dr. Claire Merrifield, GP and medical director at Selph said: “People that suffer from hay fever may find that they actually have fewer symptoms, or in some cases worse symptoms when they are abroad.
"This is because types of pollen vary across different countries, and the varying climate and weather also means the pollen seasons can be vastly different.
"Some people find that when they move to a different country, they develop new hay fever symptoms. This is because they are exposed to different types of allergen that their immune system has never seen before.
"Bad hay fever symptoms can really take away the enjoyment of travelling abroad, so it's definitely worth thinking ahead if you do suffer from hay fever, researching the pollen count in the country you are visiting, and preparing yourself to tackle the symptoms whilst you're away."
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For those heading to Faro and Lisbon in Portugal, as well as Ibiza and Dublin, don't worry too much.
The research, from Hellotickets, has named them as the best destinations you can take a trip to if you suffer from hay fever.
It differs depending on the kind of pollen allergy you have - tree, grass, or weed.
For tree pollen allergies, Faro is the place to be in June with it Lisbon for July and August. Ibiza makes the clean sweep when it comes to grass pollen, with it the best holiday destination for all three months. The same goes for Dublin and weed pollen across the entire summer.
Zürich is one of the worst cities to visit during the early summer if you have a pollen allergy. The Swiss city gathers high to extreme levels of tree and grass pollen count from April to July, but it’s a rather pleasant destination during the late summer and early autumn months.
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Dr Merrifield said: "Switzerland tends to have longer, more intense pollen seasons than other countries in Europe. This means symptoms can worsen, and can last longer."
The Polish capital has one of the highest amounts of average grass pollen levels during the early summer months, only after Zürich, with guts of over 80 grains per metre cubic of air during June and July, an amount considered high by pollen count standards.
The iconic Italian city not only shines by their fashion industry, but also its pollen count levels. From May to August, the city features moderate tree and grass pollen levels by standard classification, although bursts can reach almost 70 grains per metre cubed. Weed pollen is also high during the autumn, so the best time to visit Milan is during the winter months.
The beautiful island of Corfu is also among the worst destinations for hay fever sufferers. While tree and grass pollen is not particularly high during the summer, weed pollen is. A big part of UK hay fever sufferers don’t know what type of pollen they’re allergic to, so unless certain, we recommend avoiding the Greek island this summer.
Lastly, Budapest is a safer choice for early summer travellers, but like Corfu, it gathers one of the highest levels of weed pollen during July, August and early autumn. If Budapest is on the bucket list, winter is the best time to go.